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The Imo State Government has introduced a
policy tagged: ‘Back-to-Farm’ to enable the state engage and invest
heavily in agriculture for self-sustenance since the state can no longer
depend on monthly allocation for survival.
The state Governor, Chief Rochas
Okorocha, disclosed that the ‘Back-to-Land for Agriculture’ policy of
the state government would enable public servants engage in agriculture
as a way of being self-reliant in business.
He disclosed this when traditional
rulers from the state operating under the aegis of Royal Fathers in
Agriculture paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Owerri.
He said the state executive council had given approval to the new policy.
Against the backdrop of the ‘Back to
Land for Agriculture’ programme, the governor directed that public
servants in the state would now work from Mondays to Wednesdays, and use
Thursdays and Fridays for agriculture (farming) while Saturdays can be
used for ceremonies. And the directive takes effect from August 1, 2016.
However, the governor exempted public
servants on essential duties like the teachers, nurses, doctors and
those involved in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive. Political
appointees are also exempted from the three-days working periods.
The governor added: “We shall try this
programme for the period of one year, starting from August 1, 2016, and
hopefully, this will help. Let me make this emphasis before it is
misconstrued or misrepresented, that this does not in any way affect the
salaries of the workers.
“Workers will get their full salaries as
been the practice. So the policy does not mean that there will be a cut
in salary rather, let us now find a way for our workers to supplement
their salaries.”
Okorocha continued: “For this reason,
the issue of annual leave and casual leave is hereby cancelled.
Resumption time for work has changed from 8a.m. to 7.30a.m. and ends by
4p.m. Any worker not found on his or her seat between 7.30a.m. and 4p.m.
on the days concerned will be summarily dismissed.
“Everybody must go back to agriculture.
Every political appointee must own a farm. The youths would also be
encouraged to take to agriculture. Schools including universities,
polytechnics and secondary schools in the state must own farms. The
Community Government Council (CGC) must be strengthened for the sake of
this agricultural programme.”
“Two billion naira has been set aside at
the micro-finance bank for the purpose of this ‘Back-to-Land for
Agriculture” policy so that those willing can access it. And time is
again when politicians and some Imolites will come to government in the
pretence of farming and collect loans and use it to buy cars and marry
new wives.
“I also want to announce that government
has appealed to families and those who organise burials on Mondays to
Wednesdays to please change and have their burials on Saturdays so that
we can concentrate on the government’s work and on the agricultural
programme.
“Everything that has to do with
agriculture, no matter what shape it comes, government will support it.
So many countries are going through economic crisis because of the fall
in oil prices.
“Our nation is also going through a very difficult moment. We have taken responsibility as leaders and we are not blaming anyone. Wise nations and leaders save for the rainy days. There were periods the oil price was in our favour. But those in charge then blew the money. They made no savings. Today, the oil price globally has crashed and here we are. And we must fall back to agriculture as the panacea.”
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